My wife and I are doing a 2 month rail trip in Europe (16 countries, 20 odd cities) in April.
I've been looking at the various travel insurance mobs but they all have terrible reviews.
What have you fellow OzB used in the past that weren't complete garbage to use/claim?
Any recommendations welcome, cheers.
Edit: I don't have a credit card
Not true. I smashed my phone in Korea a year ago and the claim process was simple and fast.
just get the free one from your credit card
Don't know why you got negged, jv.
Here's an upvote to bring it back to normality.
Edit… maybe you negged cause there was no bold?
I’ll never upvote jv out of principle but I’d also never neg them if they were saying something sensible (for once).
What happened to your avatar. I'm going to have to build up muscle memory to spend my five negs on this new one now 😡
I went to Europe from August to October last year and had my phone stolen the second day I was there (London's a hell of a place). I used Southern Cross Travel Insurance and while it was a little difficult to get support while I was there (the non-urgent call centre hours rarely lined up with my waking hours while over there), the claim process once I got back was a breeze - got paid within 2 weeks of submitting the relevant info with no extraneous document requirements. Very little issue overall, I'd recommend them.
London is notorious for phones getting stolen.
Notorious for worse than that nowadays, sadly. I grew up there in a poor part of London and it was much safer than it is now. You still needed your wits about you but it’s crazy now.
We have a trip to Europe coming up and even though we have 52 days over there I can’t get enthusiastic about visiting the land of my ancestors. They seem to have a revolving door of batshit PMs and it just rots down from there.
@try2bhelpful: Haha, you can still have fun, just be cautious in the big cities. There’s a lot of cookers over in them there parts but most people you speak with individually are quite reasonable.
Don’t let my lazy generalisation impact your holiday, enjoy my friend.
@kiriakoz: Nah. We went to London several years ago and saw a lot of the museums we wanted to see. Most of the people we met were fine but It just didn’t seem to be a happy place.
The only time I ever got pickpocketed was in Barcelona. Fortunately some eyewitnesses scared the pickpocket into dropping my purse and showed me where it was. Nothing was missing. I’m normally more careful but I was hot and tired. Now I tie my zip eyelets together so it is harder to get my bag opened.
We’ve wandered around New Orleans after midnight. Now there is a place where the difference between having a great time and being in deep trouble is a whisker. Thoroughly recommend the “Barbecue and Blues” festival.
I was in America when 911 happened. Now that was very interesting.
I knew that in theory so I was being generally careful, but I wasn’t prepared for it being swiped clean out of my hand by a knob on a BMX.
Yeah, that is a known issue as well. Don’t walk near the road with a phone in your hand. Don’t put your phone down on the table in a pub. Watch out in crowds because the accomplices will try to distract you. I’m tempted to take my broken phone with me when I go overseas just so they get stuck with it.
@try2bhelpful: Yeah, I had it all down pat except for the road thing. Frustatingly, I had just left a pub and was walking on the footpath with it in my left hand away from the road, looking up PT directions back to my hostel - I thought that would be enough. Now I know I should’ve had both hands on it, shouldn’t have taken it out at all really, but that was pub number five of the night so my guard was a little lower than it should’ve been.
On the plus side, it made me much, much more careful for the following seven weeks.
@try2bhelpful: If you are big/tough enough to cope with the consequences, you can get wrist straps for your phone. Issue is if someone zooms past on a bike and grabs it, you are still connected to it. Probably not an issue if you are 100kg but risky if you are 75 years old and 40kg. But it reduces a lot of the other risks.
@dtc: Yeah, I would rather lose the phone than break a wrist. I can use my Apple Watch for a lot of the things my phone does. The risk for me would be taking photos.
I would love to have an umbrella and stick it through the spokes. I probably wouldn’t but sometimes my righteous law and order inner child whispers to me.
There are at least fifteen travel insurers on productreview.com.au that rate 4 stars or higher. I wouldn't write them all off as terrible.
Spot the 15 that game the system ;)
insurer reviews are:
I'm outraged that my claim took too long / wasnt covered even though I thought the PDS said it was covered / its ridiculous its not covered just because I didnt read the PDS / they keep insisting on evidence, why dont they trust me <- 99% of reviews
I had a great response, got my money easily and the call centre was helpful <- 1% of reviews
then
Key things to check
SCTI seems to have reasonable reviews.
SCTI is good but Tick is the cheapest. Tick has good reviews but the excess on most items is $200, so you get less back should you claim. If you don't expect to claim but want peace of mind I think Tick is pretty competitive.
I ran a quick comparison: Insureandgo is cheaper than Tick for a 2-month trip to Europe
I've been looking at the various travel insurance mobs but they all have terrible reviews.
Like more reviews, people like to go out of their way to complain. You need to look at the detail of the bad review. Was it they didn't know what the insurance covered and only assumed?
We normally use insure and go, claimed once. No issues.
I don't have a credit card
Might be wise to get one for those just incase moments while travelling.
Amex platinum did me well. Covered a mishap with a rental car and it's related excess, as well as a 2 night delay in flights
You will likely need a credit card as most accommodation places require a credit card to pre-authorize possible room charges.
I travelled around Europe without a credit card (visa debit only). Had no issues.
It really depends on individual circumstances, credit card coverage is good for lost items, theft, cancellations etc. it’s a different story if you have pre existing conditions that aren’t nominated on the policy.
You really need to do your homework before you travel, it’s not just about which is free or cheapest .
This is very true. As soon as i said i had been hospitalised for asthma in the past x years, my coverage went up $200.
People need to run their individual circumstances through and decide also whether covid coverage is important to them (I wouldn't be going without it overseas)
With the current wave of Covid a lot of people we know are getting Covid for the first time, including a friend who is currently overseas. Fortunately her husband continued to test negative because he had to fly back earlier than her. They decided not to take out Covid cover this time. That could’ve cost them.
Yes, while covid might be managed at home and with free vaccinations here, it is not the case overseas.
On a cruise, you will be quarantined and potentially disembarked at the next port. This is especially the case in Japan. Factoring basic onboard medical costs and it's easily a few thousand USD.
@Benoffie: Also they may not let you on a plane if you are Covid positive. Might need to rebook and find more accomodation.
i went with allianz bc they had best reviews and were also one of the cheapest
didn't have to use it but just remember to save the insurance onto your phone and print it out as well.
as for your purchases just use your credit card for everything they all have complimentary insurance these days
if you dont have one get one they will approve anyone with a job.
How can you make all the travel booking without a credit card ? lol
Didn't know you have to have a credit card to make travel booking. Since when was that a thing? I did round the world trip 15 years ago and only had a debit card. Have things changed recently?
no cc?….. good luck.
Have used Allianz and RAA - had to claim on both and both were painless. RAA which is backed by a Japanese insurer just processed my overseas medical claim in less than a week.
I think it's like anything. Play by the rules of the system and it works for you. If that means ensuring you take paperwork in triplicate or cant drink on a holiday, then so be it.
I bought Covermore for my infant daughter for a trip to Asia last year as she didn't meet the criteria for our credit card complimentary one. We made a medical claim and it was quick and easy.
All insurance is garbage when you need to claim. It's part of their business model.